Here is everything you need to know about 'cockroach milk' – the protein-packed superfood that some can’t wait to get their hands on.

As resources continue to dwindle at a rate that contradicts our growing global populations, it’s no surprise researchers are desperate to find alternative sources of nutrition to alleviate the strain on industries across the sector.

But, science’s latest suggestion might be taking things too far, resembling the gutwrenching challenge we’re used to watching on I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here. 

Cockroach ‘milk’ has been hailed the next up-and-coming superfood by scientists – especially for those with lactose intolerance–, but before you trade in your beloved oat milk latte, here’s what you need to know.

Do cockroaches produce milk?

If you live in a slightly dated, inner-city apartment complex or unit, you’ve surely come across a few cockroaches in your time. During the warmer summer months, those of us based on the East Coast can spend hours squashing, spraying and trapping the buggers. 

Upon our endeavours to eradicate populations living rent-free in our kitchens and garages, you’ve probably also become familiar with the lifecycle and breeding habits of common household roaches.  

Common household roaches – from the small German cockroaches that love to invade your kitchen to the larger, more daunting American cockroaches – do not produce cockroach milk for their offspring. Females instead lay a casing of up to 16 eggs, dropping their offspring off to fend for themselves when the time is right. 

Introducing diploptera punctata: The future of nutrition

Alas, the roaches under the spotlight for their nutritional potential are not the ones you’re used to finding behind your fridge - humanity isn’t yet that desperate.

One particular cockroach species, however, reproduces differently. The cockroach called diploptera punctata – AKA the Pacific beetle cockroach – is viviparous, meaning it gives birth to live offspring, rather than lays eggs (much like how each of us humans came into this world). 

After birthing their offspring, the Pacific beetle cockroach produces a milk-like substance in the form of protein crystals to feed their young.

Is cockroach milk the next superfood?

When analysed by scientists during a 2016 study, the substance was found to contain three times the calories of buffalo milk, the most calorie-dense milk produced by mammals on Earth, with cockroach milk boasting approximately 700 calories per cup. To put that in perspective, a cup of cow's milk typically contains 100 calories, while a cup of buffalo's milk contains roughly 240 calories.

Moreso, cockroach milk is reported to be more nutritious than all traditional dairy products, and is lactose-free, making it suitable for those with lactose intolerance.

The study, published in the Journal of the International Union of Crystallography, also concluded that the milk-like fluid produced by female Pacific beetle cockroaches is rich in proteins, fats and sugars, making it one of the most nutrient-dense substances in the world. 

The health benefits of cockroach milk

Cockroach milk contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein source. These amino acids, which can only be attained through diet help with cell growth and repair.

Cockroach milk, the complete food that could be harvested for human consumption by killing female cockroaches, contains fatty acids such as oleic acid and linoleic acid, which are beneficial for health.

Given its nutrient-rich qualities, it’s no wonder scientists are keen to explore the potential of cockroach milk as a food source for humans, believing the substance could play a transformative role in the future of food innovation. 

Of course, like any food source – especially one so rich in nutrients and associated with so many health benefits – the milk-like substance is being researched as a complementary food source to balanced, diverse diets, not as a means of replacing traditional eating habits.

Ethical concerns with farming female cockroaches

From a sustainability standpoint, cockroach farming to produce milk would require less land and water compared to traditional dairy farming and other plant-based milk sources readily consumed today.

However, mass production of cockroach milk is infeasible due to the necessity of killing a large number of cockroaches to obtain small quantities of milk. In fact, in order to produce just 100 mL of cockroach milk, roughly 1,000 female cockroaches would need to be killed.

The labour-intensive process required to mass produce cockroach milk as a protein-rich alternative to dairy milk is just one of the reasons humans are nowhere near adding the yellowish fluid to their diets.

Is cockroach milk safe for human consumption?

Despite the impressive cocktail of amino acids, sugars, proteins and medium-chain fatty acids, there is also insufficient research to confirm the safety of cockroach milk for human consumption, especially for vulnerable groups.

While cockroach milk is lactose-free, making it suitable for people with lactose intolerance or milk allergies, and rich in proteins, essential amino acids, and good sugars compared to other milk sources, to mass produce and commercialise the protein crystals at a level that is safe for the human body to consume would require years of further research.

With ethical and production concerns such as these, cockroach milk is unlikely to be considered an alternative, sustainable food source for human consumption, so don’t pour out your dairy milk cappuccino quite yet.